Game apparatus



Nov; 12, 1940. V G. E. WEST 2,221,337.

GAME APPARATUS Filed Jung 10, 1940 .2 o 60 @l 4, 6 3 7 ,{f INVENTOR.

/4 I ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES GAME APPARATUS George E. West, Washington, D. 0.

Application June 10, 1940, Serial No; 339,798

2 Claims.

The objects of this invention are, to provide improvements in a game apparatus of the ballselection type, which will call for skill of a high order, and to supply novel structure whereby that endwill be accomplished.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 shows, in vertical longitudinal, section, a game apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing a portion of the rotor;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 2.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a tubular and preferably cylindrical container I, the longitudinal axis of which is horizontally disposed. The container 1 may be mounted in any suitable way, for instance by securing it in seats 2, formed in feet 3.

The container I comprises, preferably, a tubular or cylindrical body 4, which is transparent, or so nearly transparent that balls 5 (preferably marbles), within the container, can be seen through the body. The balls 5 are supplied with numbers 6, or other distinguishing characters.

On one end of the body 4 of the container I is secured a cap I, supplied in its end wall with a bearing 8. About the opposite end portion of the body 4 is secured a sleeve 9. An end cap Ill fits over the sleeve 9 and is secured thereto by a and, preferably, midway between the ends of the container and in the inspection area marked by the numeral II. The discharge opening I2 is a little larger in diameter than any of the balls or game pieces 5.

A rotor I4 is furnished, and is a composite structure. The rotor l4 includes a shaft I5, disposed in the horizontal longitudinal aXis of the container I. The cap I0 has any outwardly projecting tubular bearing I6, wherein the shaft I5 is journaled. The shaft I5 has a tapered end I'I mounted to rotate in the bearing 8 in the end wall of the cap I.

The shaft I5 is supplied with a handle I8, of any desired construction. A ratchet wheel I9 15 is secured to the shaft I5 and abuts against a collar 28 on the shaft: although withoutrequiring any change in the drawings, the collar 20 might be the hub of the ratchet wheel I9. The ratchet wheel I9 engages the inner surface of the end wall of the cap Ill, and the handle I8 engages the outer end of the bearing I6. Consequently, the shaft I5 cannot move endwise, to disengage the tapered end I! of the shaft from the bearing 8. 25

An operator may rotate the shaft I5, by means of the handle I 8, in the direction indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 2: but he cannot rotate the shaft in an opposite direction, as indicated by the arrow B in Fig. 2, because the ratchet wheel is engaged 30 by a gravity pawl 2I, pivotally mounted on the 1 end wall of the cap ID, as shown at 22. The pawl and ratchet mechanism 2II9 constitutes means for preventing retrograde rotation of the rotor I4, represented at the present stage of the description by the shaft I5.

A cross piece 23 is secured intermediate its ends to the shaft I5 and forms oppositely projecting arms or segregators 24 therein. The arms 24 are long enough so that when the shaft I5 is rotated in the direction of the arrow A, either of the arms or segregators 24 can pick up one of the balls 5, the ball then rolling to the right in Fig. 2, lengthwise of the cross piece 3, and finding an exit through the discharge opening I2. The reason forhaving a means for preventing retrograde movement of the shaft I5 and associated parts is that a lesser degree of skill is required to turn the rotor I4 in the direction of thearrow B, one of the arms 24 picking up a ball and raising it from the position shown in solid line in Fig; 2, to the opening I2.

It is desirable that, at the start, the playing of the game shall not be too difiicult, less the operator be discouraged. In order to avoid such a contingency, and to reduce somewhat the possibility that the ball will roll ofi one of the arms 24 as the ball is being carried from the solid line position of Fig. 2 to the clotted line position shown at 26, each arm 24 is provided on one of its ball-engaging surfaces with a shallow, short, longitudinal, concaved recess 25, which facilitates the initial picking up of the ball by the arm 24.

As the tilt of the cross piece 23 increases, the ball rolls from the dotted line position of Fig. 2, lengthwise of the cross piece 23, and the ball may find an exit through the opening I2, although there is a strong possibility that the ball will roll crosswise off the arm at this stage. The surface of the arm 24 that is opposite to the surface having the recess 25, is convexed transversely of the arm to form a rib 21 located at the end of the arm and of about the same length as the recess 25. Owing to the provision of the convexed rib 27, as the ball on the cross piece 23 approaches the opening I2, there is some liklihood that the ball will be carried laterally by the rib 27, and will not roll, through the opening I2.

The height of the rib 21 is greatly exaggerated in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and in practice, the height of the rib need not exceed a few thousandths of an inch.

The reasons for having the rib 21 of small height are twofold. One of those reasons is that although the game should be dificult to play, it should not be impossible of performance. Another reason for having the rib 21 of minor height is that it is practically invisible to the naked eye. The operator does not know why the ball 5, when approaching the opening I2, as the ball moves along the cross piece 23, rolls lateraly off the cross piece, just as the ball seems about to pass through the opening I2. In practice, the existence of the rib 21 is not disclosed, either by printed instructions accompanying the game, or otherwise.

The device shown in this application is not merely a chance machine. If the shaft I5 is rotated rapidly, in an attempt to have one of the arms 24 kick a ball 5 out of the opening I2, successful efforts will be few and far between. If, however, the operator turns the shaft I5 somewhat slowly, observing the position of the ball, the ball may be caused to pass out of the opening I2, by the exercise of a high degree of skill.

The operation has been dealt with hereinbefore, but, briefly stated, is as folows:

The shaft I5 is rotated by means of the handle I8, the arm 24 picks up a ball 5, the ball rolls lengthwise of the upper surface of the cross piece 23, and the ball is discharged through the opening I2, with a frequency that depends upon the skill of the manipulator.

What is claimed is:

1. A game comprising a container having a side outlet located at a place above the lowermost portion of the container, a loose game piece in the container, a substantially horizontal shaft journaled in the container, a cross member secured intermediate its ends to the shaft and movable in a substantially vertical plane, the cross member being of such length that its ends are spaced from the wall of the container by distances less than the thickness of the game piece, the cross member constituting an elevator for the game piece, and presenting a continuous inclined track along Which the game piece can move by gravity from one end of the cross member to the opposite end thereof and be discharged through the outlet, from an elevated position on the opposite side of the shaft from the outlet.

2. A game constructed as set forth in claim 1, and wherein the cross member is provided with a laterally acting game piece deflector located at the discharge end of the cross member.

GEORGE E. WEST. 

